Conveyer.



H. E. WILLIAMS.

CONVBYBR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY28,1912. 1,095,255. Patented May 5,1914.

' A 4 sHEBTsHsHBBT 1. 1 Q QQ E km t@ o Q 11 Oo o OQ @o A O? @n s o o k om l o @9i/hmmm@ II. L. WILLIAMS.

Patented May 5, 1914.

4 SIIEETSPSIIIIIIT 2.

H. E. WILLIAMS.

GONVBYER. APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, 1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Www

Ils,

/IFIIIIIIIIIIII l v4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In q( H. E'. WILLIAMS.

GONVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYzs, 1912,

WW1/wonen i,oa5,255.

UNITED sTATEs PAEENT oEEicE.

HARRY E. WILLIAMS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, .ASSIGNOR T0 DOW WIRE & IRONWORKS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION.

GONVEYER.

' Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented May5, 1914.

' To all- 'whom it may concern l Be it known that I, HARRY E. WILLIAMS,a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in `the countyof Jefferson and 'State of Kentucky, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Conveyers; and I dodeclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the in-` vention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and usethe same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, andto theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis s cification.

`This invention relates to thec ass of convey-l ers but moreparticularly to a conveyer which can be employed for both raisingand'lowering articles, packages, boxes, crates and the like, and theinvention has for its object to pro vide a combined raising and loweringconveyer which is so constructed and arranged that articles, packages,boxes, crates and the like can be` raised and deposited on any desiredfloor inthe building and in which articles, packages, boxes, crates andthe like can be conveyed from any floor' in the build ing in a downwarddirection.

A further object of the inventionis to provide the conveyer with certainfire proof doors arranged at each floor or story in the building in suchmanner that they will automatically close in the event of fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyer which is soconstructed, and arranged as to receive the articles, pack.I ages,boxes, crates and the 11ke and convey,-

the same either upwardly or downwardly without injuring or breaking thearticles, packa es, boxes, crates and the like.

A girther object of the invention is to provide a, conveyer of thecharacter described which is extremely simple in its construction, cheapand easy to manufact-ure,

. strong, durable and etlicient.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction of the conveyer and in its component parts; and theinvention consists in the novel arrangement for raising and handling thearticles, packages, boxes, crates and the like at the lower end of theconveyer in .such manner that the same cannot be injured or broken bythe conveyer chain'and ilights.

The invention further consists in the novel construction for depositingarticles, packages, boxes, crates and the like at any desired licorthroughout the length of the conveyer.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangementof the safety fire doors.

The invention further consists in certain other novel details ofconstruction and in .transverse .sectional view of the frame and door ofthe conveyer taken on line6-6 lof Fig. l, and Fi tudinal verticasectional view showing a modified construction of the arrangement ofintermediate doors o r openings for delivering an article, ackage, box,crate and the like at interm iate openings through out the length of theconveyer.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout theseveral figures in whch- 1 indicates the conveyer which comprises thelongitudinal lower frame pieces 2 (Fig. 6) and the upper longitudinalframe pieces 7 is a. fragmentary longiy 3, the lower frame pieces 2being preferably constructed of channel-iron as shown, while the upperframe ieces 3 are constructed of angle-iron. he lower frame pieces 2 areconnected together at intervals by means of the transverse connectingfloor supporting braces 4, upon which transverse braces 4 are arrangedthe longitudinal Hoor pieces 5 in the manner as shown in Fig. 6, saidlongitudinal floor pieces 5 extending the full length of the conveyerand forming the Hoor upon which articles, packages, boxes, crates andthe like slide on their upward or downward movement on the conveyer. Theupper and lower longitudinal frame pieces 2 and 3 are connected togetherl at intervals by verticalframe pieces 6 of angle-iron or of any othersuitable material,

. andthe said longitudinal frame pieces are also lconnected together bytruss pieces 7 arranged conveniently to add strength and rlgidity to thestructure.

8 indicates the upper sprockets for the conveyer chain and 9 indicatesthe lower sprockets over which sprockets the conveyer chain 10 travels,said conveyer chain 10 being composed of a series of links 11 connectedtogether by transverse pins 12 upon which are mounted rollers 13, saidrollers 13 rolling on the upper and lower longitudinal 'frame pieces 2and 3 in the manner as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. By means of thisconstruction the friction of the chains is reduced to a minimum.

In order to maintain the chains in their proper relative positions Iprovide at the lower bend of the conveyer a pair of guide pieces .14curved inaccordance with the bend in the conveyer under which theconveyer chains travel, and at the bend in the upper frame pieces 3 Iprovide similar guides 15, which guides 15 are vertically adjustable at16, in order to take up the slack in the conveyer chains and to adjustthe tension of the same on its sprockets 8 and 9. The conveyer chain ispreferably driven at the top end. of the yconveyer by a pulley 17 V(Fig.4) driving a pair of gear wheels 18 mounted on a transverse shaft 19,said gear wheels 18 meshing with pinions 2O mounted on the sprocketwheel shafts 21 although, as is, of course, apparent, the conveyerchains can be driven from the lower sprockets 9 by the simpleapplication of the gearing just described tothe lower end of theconveyer.

Referring nowl particularlyv to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the floor ofthe conveyer terminates at the point 22 under the lower sprockets 9while a conveying apron 23 mounted on rollers 24 is disposed in linewith the ioor of the conveyer, said apron 23 being driven by means of apinion 25 (Fig. 1) mounted 0n the shaft of the forward apron roller 24,said pinion 25 meshing with the partially toothed gear wheel 26 lmountedon the shaft 27 of the lower sprocket wheels 9 for a purpose. which willbe presently described. Approaching the endless apron-23 is a shortconveyer 28 composed f the rollers 29 by which the 'articles, packages,boxes, crates and the like are conveyed to the apron 23. Referring inthis connection to Fig. 2 it will be seen that I interpose between theend of the short conveyer 28 and the outer end of the conveyer apron 23two stops 30 which stops are arranged to prevent the passage ofl anarticle,

package, box, crate and the like on to the endless apron- 23; while itwill be seenA from Figs. 2 and43 that lI dispose on the apron 23 aprojection 31which projection is moved with the apron 23 and passed upbetween the end of the apron 23 and the inner end of the short conveyer28 inv the manner as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Vhile the drawings illustrate a single.

intermediate chute or conveyer between the ends thereof it is of courseperfectly apparent that as many intermediate chutes can be arranged asthere are iioors or stories in the building and it is simply a matter ofduplicating the chutes in order to make the conveyer applicable to abuilding of any hei ht. i

-eferring now to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the floor 5 isprovided with an opening 32 and communicates with'an inclinedchute 33 insuch manner that an article, package, box, crate and the like bein veyedby the conveyer chains will be deposited on the said chute 33 and is ledby gravity onto the lower conveyer 34. As before stated,'as many ofthese chutes are arranged in the conveyer as there -arc stories in thebuilding, providing of course that the conveyer extends the entireheight of the building, and when it is desired to convey articles,packages, boxes, crates and the like either up or down, without havingthem deposited at intermediate points, a removable floor-section 35shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. l, is arrangedat the openings 32 in order to provide a continuous ioor the entirelength of thev conveyer, and it is obvious that any one of the saidremovable Hoor-sections 24 can be removed in order to deposit articles,packages, boxes, crates and the like at any desired point intermediatethe ends ofthe conveyer. Referring in this connection to Fig. 7,however, it will be seen that in place of theremovable floor section 5,I can pivot the section 36 at the point 37 and so hold the section 36 bya weight 38 so as to maintain the said section 36 normally inproperposition, and I can arrange a slide 39 to pass under the end 40 of thehinged section 36 in order to maintain the section 36 in its normalposition'during the passage of the articles, packages, boxes, crates andthe like either upwardly or downwardly of the conveyer, and when it isdesired to deposit an article, package, box, crate and the like at ayintermediate' point along the length of the conveyer it is simplynecessary to move the slide 39 into position shown in full lines in Fig.7, and as the article, package, box,

con-

crate and the like reaches the hinged section 36 lthe weight of, thesame will cause said hinged section to swing down into position shown indotted lines in Fig.l 7 and causeV the weight 38 Ato be raised intoposition shown in dotted lines in said figure which will cause thearticle, package, box, crate and the like to be lowered onto the end 4lof the roller conveyer 34 and as soon as the article, package, box,crate and the like is thus del veyer. For the purpose. of having theoon- .veyer dights engage the articles, packages, boxes, crates and thelike in a proper mannerat the bot-tom of the conveyer so that there willbe no possibility of damage or breakage to' the articles, packages,boxes,

lcrates and the like conveyed I arrange the construction as illustratedin Figs. ,l and`3 which has been previously described and whichopera-tes as follows: IVhen' an article, package, box, crate and thelike to be conveyed is placed on the lower roller conveyer 28 the saidarticle, package, box, crate and the like engages the stops 30 and isheld in a stationary position until the extension 31 on the apron 23comes into position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as the conveyer apron 23carries ythe projection 3l in an upward direction the said projectioncomes under the end or forward edge of the article, package, box, crateand the like and raises the same. clear of the stops 30 and onto theconveyer apron 23 in such manner that the article, package, box, crateand the like is conveyed by the said apron 23 onto the floor of theconveyer. AWhen the article, package, box, crate and the like is thusconveyed a chain Hight is in position to engage the same from behind toraise and elevate the same on the conveyer..V However, as the-partiallytoothed or 'mutilated gear wheel 26 and the pinion-..25 are so timedthat the conveyer apron 23 is not moved whenever one'of the* transverseHights is passing around the sprocket wheels. 'Ihis system of gearing isso timed that the endless conveyer apron 23 makes only one revolutionand is then stopped. By means of this construction it is perfectlyapparent that the articles, packages, boxes, crates and the like cannever come on the conveyer apron 23 at a time when the same would be inposition to be struck with the chain iiights in such manner as to damageand injure the same'for the reason that the conveyer apron 23 is at restand is at a full stop whenever the chain flights are making the turnaround the sprocket wheels 9 so that by this arrangement the articles,packages, boxes, crates and the like are delivered to the conveyer floorat a time when the conveyer flights are in a safe position so as not tocontact with and damage the article, package, boX, crate and the like.This as is perfectly apparent is a material feature of this inventionfor the reason that without this safe-guard delicate and fragilearticles, packages, boxes, crates and the like would be liable to severeinjury and breakage, while heavy and tough articles, packages, boxes,crates and the like l would severely injure the chain flight should theybe under the same when the said fiight is making its turn aroundthelower sprocket wheels.

Having thus fully described the invent-ion the operation of the same isapparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings. As a: matter of safety I provide as many firedoors in the conveyer as there are fioors to the building through whichthe conveyer passes, said fire doors being clearly illustrated in Figs.land 3, and are constructed preferably of sheet iron, the doors 45 beinghinged at 46 and suspended in the position shownin Figs. l and 2 bymeans. of a. fuse 47, which fuse 47is of such character that the samewill part when heated and allow the doors 45 to drop into a horizontalposition to completely close the openings in the doors through which theconveyer passes, thus forming eifectually a fire door in order toprevent the passage of fla-me from one Hoor to the other through theconveyer openings.

Having thus fully described the invention it is of course apparent thatthe same is capable of certain changes and modifications in theconstruction which would clearly fall within the limit and scope of thisinvention, and I consider myself clearly entitled to all .such changesand modifications which fall within the terms of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is -1. ,-Aconveyer for elevating articles, packages, boxes,crates and the like comprising a suitable frame-work and means forlpropelling articles, packages, boxes, crates and the like up theconveyer, a conveyer-apron at one end of said conveyer, a Secondconveyer associated with said conveyer-apron, means intermediate saidsecond conveyer and said conveyer-apron for stopping said articles, &c.,means on said conveyer-apron for engaging the. stopped articles &c., tolift the latter from said second conveyer onto said conveyer-apron, saidpropelling means effecting the removal of said articles &c., from saidconveyer-apron onto the main elevator.

' 2. A'conveyer for elevating articles, packages, boxes, crates and thelike, including a frame-work, an endless belt of flights and means foractuating the same, a conveyerapron at one end of said conveyer,v asecond conveyer associated with said conveyerapron, means intermedia-tesaid second conveyer and said conveyer-apron for stopping said4articles, &c., means on said conveyer- 130 engaging said stopped apronfor engaging the stopped articles, & c., to lift the latter from saidsecond conveyer onto said conveyer-apron, said endless belt of flightseffecting the removal of said articles, &c., from said conveyer-'aprononto the main conveyer.

3. A conveyer for elevatin articles, packages, boxes, crates and the lie comprising a propellingmeans, a conveyer apron at one end of saidconveyer, intermediate means between the said lpropelling means and the`said conveyer apron to drive the said conveyer apron intermittently, aAsecond conveyer assembled with saidy conveyer-apron, means between saidsecond conveyer and l said conveyer-apron for stopping saidartimentioned conveyer for stopping articles,

delivered thereto by packages, boxes, crates land the like, and means onsaid lconveyer apron for engaging articles, packages, boxes, crates andthe like the said second mentioned conveyer.

-means' for raising 5. A conveyer for raising articles, packages, boxes,crates and the like comprising a conveyer, propelling means thereon, anauxiliary conveyer at one end thereof, a con-l veyer apronarrangedbetween said two conveyers, means for stopping articles,packages, boxes, crates and the like to be delivered to said conveyerapron, and means actuated by said conveyer apron to engage articles,packages, boxes, crates andthe like to be delivered thereon to raise thesame onto said conveyer apron, said conveyer apron `being arranged'todeliver articles, packages,

boxes, crates and the like to the first mentioned conveyer.

6. A conveyer for elevating articles, packages, boxes, crates and thelike comprising a propelling conveyer, an auxiliary conveyer arranged atone end thereof, an endless con- -veyer apron interposed between saidtwo conveyers, means for stopping articles, packages, boxes, crates andthe like on the second mentioned conveyer before delivering the same tothe said conveyer apron, and the said articles, packages, boxes, cratesand the like so stopped onto and upon the said conveyer apron, the saidconveyer apron being arranged to deliver to the first mentionedconveyer.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

HARRY E. l WILLIAMS.

YVitnesses: t

A. L. MARCUM, a C. IV. WHITE.

